Posted on 08/04/2009 3:45:39 PM PDT by Cindy
THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
THE BLOG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2009 AT 6:55 AM Facts Are Stubborn Things Posted by Macon Phillips
Opponents of health insurance reform may find the truth a little inconvenient, but as our second president famously said, "facts are stubborn things."
Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to "uncover" the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions.
In this video, Linda Douglass, the communications director for the White House’s Health Reform Office, addresses one example that makes it look like the President intends to "eliminate" private coverage, when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
For the record, the President has consistently said that if you like your insurance plan, your doctor, or both, you will be able to keep them. He has even proposed eight consumer protections relating specifically to the health insurance industry.
There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.
Here are the complete videos that Linda refers to. First from the AARP:
And then from the President's news conference:
Note: Video included.
http://nation.foxnews.com/culture/2010/12/06/report-health-care-law-causing-mass-exodus-doctors
“Report: Health Care Law Causing Mass Exodus of Doctors”
December 6, 2010
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2652003/posts
“(HHS) Department of Health buys search engine advertising to promote Obamacare”
Daily Caller ^ | 1/5/2011 | Matthew Boyle
Posted on January 5, 2011 11:24:13 AM PST by markomalley
“ObamaCare waivers jump from 222 to 729 covering 2.2 million employees”
POSTED AT 8:15 PM ON JANUARY 26, 2011 BY JOHN SEXTON
SNIPPET: “This ever-expanding list of waivers is the direct result of ObamaCare raising the annual benefit caps on certain health plans. Obviously, a plan with higher annual limits is potentially more costly than one without them. The money to cover the difference in premiums has to come from somewhere. Without the waivers, it will come from the employer who are forced by law to upgrade to the more expensive plan. In other words, the 729 organizations who have received waivers are not seeking refuge from an unintended consequence, but from the costs associated with one of ObamaCare’s features. The real question is what these businesses will do once the waiver program comes to an end.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlBvrp4qV7Q
Video (HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE): “CBO CONFIRMS HEALTH CARE LAW DESTROYS JOBS”
(Added February 10, 2011)
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-adriana-jenkins-cancer-herceptin-dying-wish.html
Technology
“A Dying Wish”
by Adriana Jenkins, 02.09.11, 06:00 PM EST
Forbes Magazine dated February 28, 2011
SNIPPET: “A targeted cancer drug kept me alive for nine years. Congress must ensure that future patients get the same chance to live.”
Posted: Thursday, February 10, 2011 10:14 pm | Updated: 10:52 pm, Thu Feb 10, 2011.
Associated Press
“IDAHO PANEL OKs NULLIFICATION”
BOISE (AP) -
SNIPPET: “The House State Affairs Committee voted 14-5 Thursday to declare President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul null and void. All 14 supporters were Republicans.”
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/02/17/lead-lawyer-challenging-obamacare-under-cyber-attack/
“Lead Lawyer Challenging Obamacare Under Cyber Attack”
Posted February 17th, 2011 at 12:43pm
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/02/how_obamacare_kills_medical_in.html
February 18, 2011
“How ObamaCare Kills Medical Innovation”
By Fred N. Sauer
CNS NEWS.com: "HHS SAYS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO'S BEEN LOOKING AT YOUR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS" by Susan Jones (SNIPPET: "Under the proposed rule, people would be able to request an "access report," which would name the particular persons who viewed their electronic health records. That includes access for purposes of medical treatment and billing. While an access report would allow patients to learn if specific persons have accessed their electronic health records, it would not explain the purpose of that access.") (June 1, 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R5f5JhgfcM
Quote:
The Doctor’s Story: How Obamacare is hurting the patient-physician relationship
aapsonline
Uploaded by aapsonline on May 27, 2011
Featuring Congressman Michael C Burgess, MD, Jane Orient, MD, & Richard Amerling, MD in a lively panel discussion regarding the patient-physician relationship. This briefing was held in the Canon House office Building in Washington DC on May 26, 2011. Whether you supported the passage of Obamacare or opposed it, the reality is that the new laws will have real world effects. The members of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons are on the front lines of caring for patients and would like to discuss the bill’s effect on the patient-doctor relationship.
Category:
News & Politics
Tags:
briefing may 26 2011
License:
Standard YouTube License
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/digital-health-data-push-launches-wild-west-market-2011-06-01
June 2, 2011, 10:58 a.m. EDT
“Digital health-data push a $30 billion boondoggle
Doctors face hurdles, onslaught by tech firms in converting to electronic records”
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/06/28/fda-panel-is-deciding-life-or-death-for-my-wife/
“An FDA Panel Is Deciding Life or Death For My Wife”
By Terry Kalley
Published June 28, 2011
FoxNews.com
SNIPPET: “December 16, 2010 will forever be the day that changed my life. I had just received a news flash across my monitor that the FDA had confirmed its advisory panel’s decision to ”de-label” the drug Avastin for breast cancer patients. The practical implication of this was that my wife Arlene was now at mortal risk.
My wife has stage IV or metastatic breast cancer. This is an incurable disease that claims the life of a woman every 14 minutes. A reported 17,500 women take Avastin for metastatic breast cancer and my wife is one of them. As Avastin is a unique drug that works by cutting off blood flow to tumors, we believe that the drug is saving my wife’s life and taking Avastin away is tantamount to a death sentence.
I picked up the phone to call my wife and tell her the news. When she answered, I was too choked-up to speak. The next five minutes were some of the worst moments of my life as I told my wife that bureaucrats in Washington were deciding to take away a drug that was keeping her alive.”
In the UK:
http://www.demos.co.uk/files/CoAD_-_web.pdf?1325710486
SNIPPET - quote:
THE COMMISSION ON ASSISTED DYING
“The current legal status of
assisted dying is inadequate
and incoherent...”
NOTE The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2832649/posts
Skip to comments.
IRS Releases Revised Health Care Reporting Guidance
JD Supra ^ | 1/13/2012 | Reed Smith
Posted on January 13, 2012 12:48:28 PM PST by mdittmar
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires employers to report the cost of employer-sponsored group health plan coverage on Forms W-2. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued interim guidance regarding this informational reporting requirement in Notice 2011-28. In response to comments on Notice 2011-28, the IRS, on January 3, 2012, released an advance copy of Notice 2012-9, which supersedes Notice 2011-28.
In general, Notice 2012-9 retains much of the original guidance set forth in Notice 2011-28, but with certain notable changes and additions, including the following:
• Clarifies that the requirement to report the cost of coverage will not apply to an employer that files fewer than 250 Forms W-2 for the preceding calendar year.
• Clarifies that the reporting requirement does not apply to coverage under a health care flexible spending arrangement funded solely through employee salary reductions.
• Provides that the standard for determining whether the cost of dental or vision coverage is reportable, is the same standard that is used for determining whether coverage is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 portability rules.
Please see full Alert below for further information.
http://www.heritage.org/ImpactOfObamacare
#
Video Description - quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7MSRtsafG0
Obamacare’s Impact on Seniors
HeritageFoundation
Uploaded by HeritageFoundation on Jan 23, 2012
Like most seniors, Ann Lorenz relies on Medicare as she copes with serious health care challenges, including Parkinson’s Disease. Ann sees a number of doctors and depends on a variety of prescription drugs and therapies to stay independent. She worries that Obamacare threatens her access to doctors, treatment options and insurance plans — and her neurologist shares her concerns.
Learn more about the effects of Obamacare at www.heritage.org/ImpactOfObamacare.
Category:
News & Politics
Tags:
Impact of Obamacare Seniors FINAL
License:
Standard YouTube License
NOTE The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2837978/posts
Brick Walls (Death Panels are already here)
wolfhirschhorn.org ^ | January 12, 2012 | CRivera75
Posted on January 25, 2012 9:09:53 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I am going to try and tell you what happened to us on January 10, 2012, in the conference room in the Nephrology department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
We arrived for our regular Nephrology visit with Amelia’s doctor who has seen her for the last three years. She examines Amelia and sends us for labs. I ask about the transplant and she says we have about six months to a year until she needs one. She tells us she reserved the conference room and when we get back from labs, we can meet with the transplant team and he can tell us about the transplant process.
After the labs, Amelia falls asleep in her stroller and we are called back to a large room with a screen and about sixteen chairs. Joe and I get comfortable and leave a space between us to fit the stroller. After about five minutes, a doctor and a social worker enter the room. They sit across from us but also leave a space between the two of them.
The doctor begins to talk and I listen intently on what he is saying. He has a Peruvian accent and is small, with brown hair, a mustache and is about sixty five years old. He gets about four sentences out ( I think it is an introduction) and places two sheets of paper on the table. I can’t take my eyes off the paper. I am afraid to look over at Joe because I suddenly know where the conversation is headed. In the middle of both papers, he highlighted in pink two phrases. Paper number one has the words, “Mentally Retarded” in cotton candy pink right under Hepatitis C. Paper number two has the phrase, “Brain Damage” in the same pink right under HIV. I remind myself to focus and look back at the doctor. I am still smiling.
He says about three more sentences when something sparks in my brain. First it is hazy, foggy, like I am swimming under water. I actually shake my head a little to clear it. And then my brain focuses on what he just said.
I put my hand up. “Stop talking for a minute. Did you just say that Amelia shouldn’t have the transplant done because she is mentally retarded. I am confused. Did you really just say that?”
The tears. Oh, the damn tears. Where did they come from? Niagara Falls. All at once. There was no warning. I couldn’t stop them. There were no tissues in conference room so I use my sleeve and my hands and I keep wiping telling myself to stop it.
I point to the paper and he lets me rant a minute. I can’t stop pointing to the paper. “This phrase. This word. This is why she can’t have the transplant done.”
“Yes.”
I begin to shake. My whole body trembles and he begins to tell me how she will never be able to get on the waiting list because she is mentally retarded.
A bit of hope. I sit up and get excited.
“Oh, that’s ok! We plan on donating. If we aren’t a match, we come from a large family and someone will donate. We don’t want to be on the list. We will find our own donor.”
“Noooo. She—is—not—eligible –because—of—her—quality– of –life—Because—of—her—mental—delays” He says each word very slowly as if I am hard of hearing.
“STOP IT NOW!” The anger is taking over. Thank God. Why did it take so long to get here?
The social worker is writing some things down. Not sure what. She casually gets up to take a call. My eyes follow her to the phone and I see Joe’s face. His mouth is open, his face is pale and he is staring straight ahead of him at the white board.
Rage fills the room. I point in his little, brown pudgy face. “Do not talk about her quality of life. You have no idea what she is like. We have crossed many, many road blocks with Amelia and this is just one more. So, you don’t agree she should have it done? Fine. But tell me who I talk to next because SHE WILL HAVE IT DONE AND IT WILL BE AT CHOP.”
I see the social worker quickly writing down what I just said. Joe hasn’t moved. Amelia is still asleep.
The social worker decides to join the conversation. “Well, you know a transplant is not forever. She will need another one in twelve years. And then what? And do you have any idea of the medications she will need to take to keep her healthy?”
I speak through gritted together. “YES, I HAVE DONE ALL MY RESEARCH.”
She smirks a little. “Well, what happens when she is thirty and neither of you are around to take care of her. What happens to her then? Who will make sure she takes her medications then?”
In a voice that mimics hers, I snort, “Well, what happens if you die tomorrow? Who will take care of your children? Your responsibilities at work?” She breathes in and her eyes widens. “Right!” I throw at her. “Neither of us can predict the future and we shouldn’t try. But if Amelia does not have this transplant she has no future!”
The doctor interrupts. He puts his hands up and tries to take a stern voice with me. “These medications she has to take after the transplant, they are very dangerous. They can cause seizures. We have to get the dose exact. They may cause brain damage.”
“DO OTHER CHIILDREN WHO HAVE A TRANSPLANT TAKE THIS MEDICATION?”
“Yes, but it is different for her. She is already brain damaged and mentally retarded.”
He pauses as if he is choosing his words carefully. “I have been warned about you. About how involved you and your famliy are with Amelia.”
The devil himself could not have produced a more evil laugh. “Ha! Warned! That is funny! You have no idea…”
I am beginning to realize I want this over with so I can move onto the next person who will help me with the transplant. So I say the words and ask the questions I have been avoiding.
“So you mean to tell me that as a doctor, you are not recommending the transplant, and when her kidneys fail in six months to a year, you want me to let her die because she is mentally retarded? There is no other medical reason for her not to have this transplant other than she is MENTALLY RETARDED!”
“Yes. This is hard for me, you know.”
My eyes burn through his soul as if I could set him on fire right there. “Ok, so now what? This is not acceptable to me. Who do I talk to next?”
“I will take this back to the team. We meet once a month. I will tell them I do not recommend Amelia for a transplant because she is mentally retarded and we will vote.”
“And then who do I see?”
“Well, you can then take it the ethics committee but as a team we have the final say. Feel free to go somewhere else. But it won’t be done here.”
They both get up and leave the room.
I look at Joe who is sobbing trying to get the stroller and Amelia’s backpack. I break down with him before we head to the parking garage.
I hope you are disturbed, troubled, distressed, and pissed off when you read this. I hope you share it with many, many people. Although I did not know this yesterday, this is very common and happens across the map. I have researched and researched and researched transplants and the MR, as they are called in the medical journals, and it is appalling. We are in the year 2012 and my child still does not have the right to live, the right to a transplant, because she is developmentally delayed.
NOTE The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2859310/posts
New Guidelines Advise Less Frequent Pap Smears (Obama’s war on women and rationed healthcare)
ny times ^ | 3/14/2012 | By TARA PARKER-POPE
Posted on March 15, 2012 3:24:14 AM PDT by tobyhill
The annual Pap smear, a cornerstone of women’s health for at least 60 years, is now officially a thing of the past, as new national guidelines recommend cervical cancer screening no more often than every three years.
In recent years, some doctors and medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2009, began urging less frequent screening for cervical cancer. Even so, annual Pap smear testing is still common because many women are reluctant to give up frequent screening for cervical cancer.
The new guidelines, issued on Wednesday by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, replace recommendations last issued in 2003 and use more decisive language to advise women to undergo screening less often. Other groups, including the American Cancer Society, released similar recommendations on Wednesday. The new guidelines were published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
(Excerpt) Read more at well.blogs.nytimes.com ...
http://freebeacon.com/the-tricare-follies/
“THE TRICARE TWIST
PENTAGON TO PAY NEW CONTRACTOR $200 MILLION MORE WHILE UPPING FEES FOR MILITARY RETIREES”
BY: Bill Gertz - March 19, 2012 5:00 am
SNIPPET: “House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon has been an outspoken critic of a Pentagon plan to sharply increase fees for Tricare, calling the plan another “hit” on the military by the Obama administration, which is cutting $487 billion in defense spending over 10 years and may cut an additional $600 billion under congressional budget-cutting legislation.”
SNIPPET: “The Pentagon’s plan to cut Tricare benefits, which must be approved by Congress, is based on what defense officials have said is skyrocketing costs for military healthcare.”
SNIPPET: “Republican congressional aides noted that Pentagon officials said during briefings last month on the health care cuts that one objective of the increases was to move military retirees from Tricare to Obamacare, the new nationalized healthcare system.”
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